St. Louis Cardinals Re-Sign Yadier Molina

 

The St. Louis Cardinals have re-signed catcher Yadier Molina to a one-year contract, worth $9 million. Molina, 38, hit .262 with 4 home runs, and 16 RBI's in 2020. Molina is a 9 time All-Star: (2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2018). Molina has won the Gold Glove Award 9 times: (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, and 2018). Molina won a Silver Slugger Award in 20013. In 2018, Molina won the Roberto Clemente Award. Molina has won the World Series 2 times: (2006, and 2011).

Molina had his best season in 2012. Molina hit .315 with 65 runs, 159 hits, 28 doubles, 22 home runs, 76 RBI's, 12 stolen bases, and 45 walks. The home runs, and stolen bases were both career highs for Molina. Molina had a career high 82 RBI's in 2017.

Overall, Molina has played 17 seasons in the MLB. All of Molina's seasons have been with the Cardinals. Molina has played 2,025 games with 713 runs, 2,001 hits, 381 doubles, 7 triples, 160 home runs, 932 RBI's, 66 stolen bases, 513 walks, and a .281 batting average. 

It's great to see Molina and starting pitcher Adam Wainwright back for another season together with the Cardinals. Maybe this year the Cardinals can win the World Series and send one of both out on a high note? It should also be fun watching the Cardinals infield on defense this season. They probably have the best infield in the MLB on defense. The infield is led by catcher Yadier Molina with first baseman Paul Goldschmidt, second baseman Tommy Edman, shortstop Paul DeJong, and third baseman Nolan Arenado. 

St. Louis Cardinals Acquire Nolan Arenado

The St. Louis Cardinals have acquired third baseman Nolan Arenado from the Colorado Rockies. The Cardinals sent LP Austin Gomber, 3B, Elehuris Montero, SS Mateo Gil, RP Tony Locey, and RP Jake Sommers to the Colorado Rockies for Nolan Arenado, and $50 million. As part of the trade, Arenado has changed his contract a little. Arenado will have player options in 2022 and 2023. Arenado has also signed a one-year contract extension, which extends him through 2027. That one-year contract extension is worth $15 million. 

 

Arenado, 29, has spent all of his 8 seasons in the MLB with the Rockies. In 2020, Arenado hit .253 with 8 home runs, and 26 RBI's.

Arenado's best season came in 2016. Arenado his .294 with 116 runs, 182 hits, 35 doubles, 6 triples, 41 home runs, 133 RBI's, 2 stolen bases, and 68 walks. The runs, and RBI's were both career highs for Arenado. Arenado had a career high 42 home runs in 2015. 

Arenado is a 5 time All-Star (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, and 2019). Arenado has won 8 straight Gold Glove Awards, starting in 2013. Arenado has won the Platinum Gold Glove Award 4 times: (2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020). Arenado has won the Silver Slugger Award 4 times: (2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018). Arenado has led the NL in home runs 3 times: (2015, 2016, and 2018). Arenado has also led the NL in RBI's 2 times: (2015, and 2016).

Overall, Arenado has played 1,079 games with 649 runs, 1,206 hits, 262 doubles, 27 triples, 235 home runs, 760 RBI's, 16 stolen bases, 362 walks, and .293 batting average. 

Gomber, 27, was 1-1 with a 1.86 ERA, 14 games, 4 starts, 1 hold, 29 innings, 27 strikeouts, and 15 walks in 2020. 

Overall, Gomber has played 2 seasons in the MLB. Gomber is 7-3 with a 3.72 ERA, 43 games, 14 starts, 8 holds, 104 innings, 94 strikeouts, 47 walks and a whip of 1.41.

Montero, 22, ranked as the Cardinals 8th best prospect. Overall, Montero has spent 5 seasons in the minors. Montero has played 360 games with 207 runs, 362 hits, 84 doubles, 7 triples, 32 home runs, 192 RBI's, 5 stolen bases, and a .269 batting average. 

Gil, 20, ranked as the Cardinals 22nd best prospect. Gil is the son of former MLB utility infielder Benji Gil (who won a World Series with the Anaheim Angel in 2002). The younger Gil, has played 2 seasons in the Cardinals minors.

Overall, Gil has played 98 games with 69 runs, 98 hits, 14 doubles, 3 triples, 8 home runs, 50 RBI's, 3 stolen bases, 37 walks, and a .257 batting average. 

Locey, 22, ranked as the Cardinals 19th best prospect. Locey has played 1 season in the Cardinals minors. Locey is 1-2 with a 5.29 ERA, 12 games, 17 innings, 31 strikeouts, and 12 walks. 

Sommers, 23, had played 1 season in the minors. Overall, Simmers is 2-3 with a 4.18 ERA, 12 games, 10 starts, 51.2 innings, 55 strikeouts, and 19 walks. 

The Cardinals pulled off a great trade for themselves in landing Arenado. It even happened without giving up Nolan Gorman or Matthew Liberatore. The Cardinals upgraded their team a lot in Arenado. On defense at third base and in their lineup. One of the few holes the Cardinals will need to worry about is the outfield in 2021. 

Arenado grew frustrated with the Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich. Arenado has always wanted to be on a contender and wants to win a World Series. The Rockies haven't been able to do that for Arenado except for 2017, and 2018. After those two seasons the Rockies haven't done well. You can't really blame Arenado for being frustrated. Arenado could end up in the Hall of Fame if he stays doing well. 

The Rockies even have had good players in franchise history, just no front office/ownership that seems to want to fully win.

Do the Cardinals maybe end up using Gorman was trade bait to upgrade the outfield? 

All in all it's a pretty great day to be a Cardinals fan. You have player who is worth paying to see play. That's not really a knock on any of the current players. But you know fans love Arenado. He's a superstar and maybe the best third baseman in the MLB. Superstars don't grow on trees either. It even should be fun watching Nolan Arenado and Paul Goldschmidt at the corners. It reminds me a little of the years when the Cardinals had Scott Rolen and Albert Pujols at the corners.